Artist Bio

Jody's creative spirit has led her down many artistic paths over the years. One of her favorite memories is painting around the kitchen table with her mom and brother (who’s also an artist) after a peaceful morning horseback ride through the woods. It was the first time she was allowed to use her mom’s oil paints—a thrilling moment for a nine-year-old. Growing up surrounded by nature gave Jody a deep appreciation for its intricacies, something that continues to inspire her work today.

At 30, Jody decided to pursue a degree in theater. By then, she was married and raising four wonderful children. In college, she discovered a passion for directing and writing scripts, and occasionally stepped into acting roles herself. Her professors quickly recognized her talent for painting, and she began designing sets as well. After earning her B.A. from Hamline University, she went on to direct and design for community theaters throughout the Twin Cities. She later became the theater director for her church and for the Rekindling Your Spirit conferences led by psychologist Paul Singh.

During that time, Jody launched a faux finishing business called Shades of Art, combining her set design experience with her love of painting. She created murals, plaster effects, and custom faux finishes to transform clients’ homes into artful, personalized spaces. The better she got, the bigger the homes—and the walls—became! After 14 years, and many gallons of paint later, Jody was ready to leave behind the scaffolding and explore a new direction. With her strong eye for color and atmosphere, she transitioned into helping clients at a local Ashley furniture store. While she enjoyed working with people, she often found herself staring at the artwork on the walls thinking, I could paint something better than that. And so she did—on canvas this time.

Now, Jody is a mixed media artist working primarily in abstract realism. Her love of nature flows through her pieces in the form of vibrant color, rich texture, and depth. Her process includes a wide range of materials: ink, cold wax, plaster, spray paint, raw pigments, metallics, oils, and acrylics. Her goal is to bring life, emotion, and meaning into the living spaces of her collectors.

Today, Jody looks forward to connecting with art lovers and collectors around the world. Her dream is to travel, observe, and paint whatever inspires her along the way.